8 career tips on BSc in Horticulture

Horticulture is the agriculture of plants, mainly for food, materials, comfort, and beauty for decoration. This applies knowledge, skills, and technologies to grow intensively produced plants for human food and non-food uses and for personal or social needs. This is the science and art of the development, sustainable production, marketing, and use of high-value, intensively cultivated food and ornamental plants. These crops are diverse; they include annual and perennial species, delicious fruits and vegetables, and decorative indoor and landscape plants. This article throws light on the importance of horticulture & benefits of opting for courses. Here 8 career tips to opt BSc horticulture as a career option after 12th:

What is BSc Horticulture?

Bachelor of Science Honors in Horticulture is an undergraduate Agriculture Science and Technology course. This includes the study of the industry and science of plant cultivation particularly fruits, berries, nuts, vegetables, flowers, trees, shrubs, and turf. This is the section of Agricultural Science that mostly deals with ways to cultivate vegetables, fruits, flowers, and herbs along with maintaining gardens, nurseries, greenhouses, landscaping, and ornamental trees.

BSc Horticulture is a course of 3 years divided into 6 semesters. The syllabus of 6 semesters is mentioned below.

Semester I

Each semester will have some important subjects that students will have to cover.. In semester I topics such as Introduction to soil science, Crop Physiology, Fundamentals of Horticulture, and Fundamentals of Extension Education will be the most important topics.

• Introduction to soil science
• Crop physiology
• Fundamentals of horticulture
• Plant propagation
• Fundamentals of extension education
• Growth development of horticulture crops
• Tropical and subtropical vegetables
• Communication skills

Semester II

The important topics to be covered here are Fundamentals of Statistics, Plant-parasitic Nematode, Fundamentals of Food Technology, and Principles of Genetics.

• Fundamentals of Statistics
• Elements of Computer Application
• Plant-parasitic Nematode
• Tropical and Subtropical Fruits
• Fundamentals of Food Technology
• Principles of Genetics
• Fundamentals of Food Technology
• Introductory Microbiology
• Water Management in Horticulture Crops

Semester III

The important topics of this semester are Ornamental horticulture, Biochemistry, and Fundamentals of entomology.

• Temperate Fruits
• Ornamental Horticulture
• Biochemistry
• Fundamentals of Entomology
• Principles of Plant Breeding
• Temperate Vegetables
• Tuber Crops

Semester IV

Some important topics of this semester are Commercial Floriculture, Orchard Management, Breeding of Fruits, and Soil Science I.

• Spices
• Commercial Floriculture
• Plantation Crops
• Orchard Management
• Breeding of Fruits
• Mushroom Culture
• Environmental Science
• Insect Ecology
• Soil Science I

Semester V

The important topics of this semester are Organic Farming, Introductory Agroforestry, Post-harvest Management, and Principles of Plant Biotechnology.

• Organic Farming
• Introduction of Major Field Crops
• Introductory Agroforestry
• Apiculture
• Post-harvest Management
• Principles of Plant Biotechnology
• Breeding and Seed Production

Semester VI

Some important subjects of this semester include Entrepreneurship Development, Seed Production, and Horticulture business.

• Remote Sensing
• Entrepreneurship Development
• Seed Production
• Medicinal and Aromatic Plants
• Processing of Horticulture Crops
• Horticulture business management

Colleges in India

Different colleges & universities offer this course across the country.

• Annamalai University
• PAU- Panjab Agriculture University
• SHUATS- Sam Higginbottom University of Agriculture, Technology & Science
• Shivaji University Kolhapur
• Jaipur National University
• Tamil Nadu Agricultural University
• Sri Sri University, Bhubaneshwar
• Thiruvalluvar University

Scope

This field has plenty of scopes as the field is expanding and other sectors are also incorporating horticulturists. Growing vegetables is the most important part of it, which is very much demanding in India. “In India, horticulturists are high in demand in various industries”. There are a number of job opportunities that are available after the completion of this study.

Benefits of opting horticulture

There are a lot of health benefits of opting for this as a career. Particular benefits of an active interest in gardening include Better physical health through exercise and learning how to use or strengthen muscles to improve mobility. Improved mental health through a sense of purpose and achievement. The opportunity to connect with others – reducing feelings of isolation or exclusion. Acquiring new skills to improve employment opportunities Just feeling better for being outside, in touch with nature and the ‘great outdoors’

Career after BSc Horticulture

After graduating in this he/she can opt for higher studies or go for the vast opportunities of jobs offered in the market. More on the career opportunities in addition to the advanced study options available for graduates of Horticulture is given below.

• M.Phil. (Horticulture)
• M.Sc. (Agriculture – Water Management)
• M.Sc. (Agriculture Horticulture)
• M.Sc. (Genetics and Plant Breeding)
• M.Sc. (Horticulture- Fruit Production and Post-Harvest Technology)
• M.Sc. (Horticulture-Floriculture and Land Scalping)
• M.Sc. (Horticulture-Vegetable Science)
• M.Sc. (Plant Protection)
• Ph.D. (Horticulture – Vegetable Science)
• Ph.D. (Horticulture)
• Ph.D. (Soil Science and Agriculture Chemistry)

Job profiles

There are a number of job opportunities that are available after the completion of this study. Here is a list of jobs you can opt for after completing your undergraduate course in it:

• Plant Pathologist.
• Consultant in horticulture.
• Ornamental horticulturist.
• Horticultural technician.
• Plant Care Worker
• Nursery Staffer.
• Landscape Designer.
• Writer.
• Project Manager.
• Gardener.
• Foreman.
• Horticulturist.
• Horticultural Education Supervisor.
• Assistant Manager of Human Resources.
• Professor.
• Scientist.

Employment abroad

Career opportunities for horticulturists in foreign nations are quite high. Horticulturists are in high demand in foreign countries & there are many companies that offer jobs comprise of:

• Agri-Biotech Companies
• Agronomy Sales Jobs
• Commercial Farming
• Dairy Consultancies
• Extension Services
• Fertilizer Companies
• Food Chains
• Horticulture Departments
• Horticulture Finance Companies
• Horticulture Insurance Companies
• Horticulture Transportation
• Research Organizations
• Storage and Grading

Salary

The average pay for a Horticulturist is $68,852 a year. The average salary range for a Horticulturist is between $49,311 and $84,964. On average, a Bachelor’s Degree is the highest level of education for a Horticulturist.

In this article, the detailed information about the course in horticulture is provided. Form this you will find hoe to make a career in BSc Horticulture after 12th & give you a chance to make the best career in this widely opened field.